Walmart looks to exit Japan with Seiyu supermarket sale: NIkkei

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TOKYO (Reuters) - U.S. retailer Walmart Inc (WMT.N) has decided to sell Japanese supermarket chain Seiyu and has already approached major retailers and private equity funds, the Nikkei business daily reported on Thursday.

A logo of Seiyu is pictured at its chainstore in Tokyo, Japan, July 12, 2018. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon

If realized, the sale could amount to around 300 billion to 500 billion yen ($2.7 billion to $4.5 billion), the Nikkei said, without citing its sources.

Walmart said it does not comment on market speculation.

A sale would be the latest exit by Walmart from a lower-growth market as it looks to shake up its overseas business and invest in places like China and India.

The world’s biggest retailer said last month it had sold an 80 percent stake in its Brazilian operations to private equity firm Advent International, exiting an underperforming business in its third major international deal since April.

In addition to competition from online retailers such as Amazon.com (AMZN.O), Japan’s supermarkets are being squeezed by chains such as convenience stores and discount drugstores in a sluggish consumption environment.

In January Walmart said it was launching an online grocery service with Rakuten Inc (4755.T), in what Rakuten CEO Hiroshi Mikitani said he hoped may be a precursor to greater global cooperation.

Walmart has struggled to replicate the success of its low-price model with Seiyu despite the introduction of an “everyday low price” pledge and frequent discounting.

Japanese supermarkets, with lots of workers preparing fresh food and high levels of customer service, are famous for their low margins and are proving a drag for many retailers.

Recent industry consolidation saw the creation of FamilyMart Uny Holdings Co Ltd (8028.T) in 2016, a deal that focused on expanding the number of FamilyMart convenience stores. Such stores have increasingly become a priority for retailers as a growth driver.

Discounter Don Quijote Holdings Co Ltd (7532.T) has taken a 40 percent stake in Uny as it looks for room to expand. Earlier this year Seven & i Holdings Co Ltd (3382.T) announced a tie-up with regional general merchandise store chain Izumi Co Ltd (8273.T).

Japan’s supermarket industry has proved difficult for foreign retail giants, with exits by Tesco (TSCO.L) in 2011 and Carrefour (CARR.PA) in 2005.

Reporting by Sam Nussey and Kaori Kaneko in TOKYO and Nivedita Balu in BENGALURU; Editing by Chang-Ran Kim and Stephen Coates